The Kearsage vs. The Alabama June 19, 1864

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Battle of Kearsage vs. Alabama Scientist Page In 1864 the weather was probably the same as today. The water was cool because land heats up and cools down faster than water. I know it wasn't raining because no battle, land or sea, was fought in rain. Because of France's location at the north, it was cold. It also has dry summers. Now a days Cherbourg is a cold 55 degrees with rain. As of May 1st it has south south west winds and 94 percent humidity. The weather in Cherbourg, France has not changed much in 150 years. The Bayonet The bayonet is one of the most common weapons used in the civil war. The name bayonet is from it's suppose origin of Bayonne, France. Bayonets were primarily used as a defensive weapon. It was a long weapon. Although most people believe that it was used as a stabbing weapon, many surgeons did not report on operating on patients with bayonet wounds. Bayonets were used for more practical things, such as pounding kernels into a can, digging up vegetables, and even using it as a tent pin. Bayonets normally had a steel tip with an iron body. It was a slim blade. On an off note, the navy were the first to adopt knife bayonets and the British were the first to adopt a short bayonet and turn it into a offensive weapon.   The map seen at the right is where the battle took place. Cherbourg is the red star. They fought 6-7 miles off the coast (Exactly where the the red star is at about 10 o'clock.)

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